Terrorism the Smokescreen for Land Grab by the High and Mighty
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Post August 5, 2019: Kashmir’s New Normal KZINE.IN 2021 UGUST A I . 10 O N OPENING KASHMIR S EYES ’ I 1 OLUME V THE JRAGI S OF ALI SAGAR KZINE August 2021 Terrorism The Smokescreen KZINE August For 2021 Land Grab By The High And Mighty FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR IN CHIEF Where The Mind Is Without Fear... August 15, 2021 was a unique day for Kashmir. The Independence Day was a breakaway from the past on many startling and welcome counts. For the first time, the Tricolor flew high on all important installa- tions and structures of historic and cultural significance. Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha hoisted the national flag on a gigantic mast of 100 meters on the historic Hari Parbat Fort in Srinagar. All educational institutions wore a festive look. For the first time in the history of Independent India, the National Flag was hoisted in all schools and colleges in Kashmir Valley. The Education Department had made it mandatory that the Tricolor must be hoisted in every school and college. For the first time, teachers were seen taking part in parades and singing the national anthem. All educa- tional institutions had been asked to take videos of the I-Day celebrations as part of the Azadi Amrit Mahautsav. The video was supposed to be uploaded online on a link provided by the UT Administration. Flag hoisting events were reported from length and breadth of Kashmir Valley. The Tricolour was unfurled for the first time in almost all government offices across Jammu and Kashmir. The demand for the national flag was so high that Kashmir markets ran short of the Tricolour. By evening, various government buildings and monu- ments were lit up in the colours of the national flag. The festivity was charming. Kashmiris went out to look at the beautiful lights on the cool August evening. This Independence Day marked a paradigm shift from the past for the good. Cynics argued that the UT Admin- istration is more interested in optics. At times optics have a vital role to play. It is appropriate to have fresh beginnings in Kashmir. Till very recently, August 14 and 15 would be marked by hartals, protests, hoisting of the Pakistan flag by over- ground workers of terrorist groups, unruly mobs and at times even bloodbaths. Mayhem ruled. Security forces engaged in pitched battles with stone pelters resulting in casualties and injuries to many on both sides, and the toxic cycle of violence. This Independence Day was absolutely incident free. The government decided not to suspend internet services. This was greatly appreciated. For the first, time internet services and SMS remained uninter- rupted and functioned at usual speed. Life went smooth as usual. The flag hoisting at Srinagar’s iconic Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk was followed by a lively cultural program. The 75th Independence Day was unique indeed in Kashmir. Bashir Assad A publication of Media Analysis Centre Kashmir A Lehar Initiative KZINE August 2021 KZINE August 2021 THE INSIDE PAGES K ASHMIR’S NEW NORMAL razor sharp analysis 2 INCISIVE REPORTING investigATE THE terror ECOSYSTEM expose deception Terror 34 We can create Islamic rule under 9 Pawns Indian Constitution SI HE kh GHULAM HASSAN Former Amir, Jamaat e Islami restoreDer or SH LA sp THE E A JAGIRS MAK inc OF ALI UL D C Jamaat Islami 18 SAGAR EM Ate Kashmir’s OCR Great Cover Up 28 ATIC After NIA Raids spirit 24 CAMPA Contractual J AMAAT CELEBRATED Staff Woes TALIban WIN IN AfghanISTAN. The Arrogance Of Does it seek the The Bureaucracy same fate for Kashmir? in J&K 38 OGPENIN KASHMIR’S EYES KZINE August 2021 KZINE August 2021 Jahaara Wani Post August 5, 2019 Kashmir’s NEW Uarm Majed NOR MAL Azmat Ali Mir 2019, some leading interna- by them. tional media houses have made In the urban centers of Kash- Kashmir one of their favourite mir valley, life was 60-80 per- talking points. Lack of any re- cent normal. In rural Kashmir, Till yesterday, Pakistan was a badge of sponse in Kashmir to the second it was a completely normal day. anniversary of August 5 should Police reports stated that specifi- honour in Kashmir. Today, it is a stigma have been given equal attention cally Srinagar was 50-60 per- nobody wants to carry. ugustA 5 marks the anniversary On August 5, 2021, there was The stigmatization of Hindustan is of the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 A of the Consti- neither a serious attempt from any tution. It went by peacefully last week. The situation remained side to disturb normal life for the day, a chapter of the past by and large normal in Kash- mir. There were no attempts for nor there was any appetite for protest. Especially since August 5, such initiatives. This raises several by Bashir ASSAD questions about the general KZINE August 2021 KZINE August 2021 mood in the Valley Fiza Nazir I fanr Fazili POIS NT THAT MERIT COntEMPLATION 1. Does business as usual mean that people have left behind whatever good or bad happened on August 5, 2019? 2. It was only the second anniversary of the abrogation. Presuming that public memory is short lived, has Kashmiri society transformed in just two years to such amazing levels that it has happily reconciled and moved on? This may emerge as a major area for study by researchers in order to evaluate Kashmir society. What we see is that the opinion leaders from diverse fields of Kashmir – politics to business to legal fraternity – all are en- trenched in the past. They are reluctant to come out of their deceptive fantasies. Srinagar city. The rest were closed. Members of the Kashmiri dias- 3. Can we presume that August 5, 2021 was normal pora sponsored by Pakistan made because the society lacks leadership either in the attempts in the US, UK and EU mainstream or the separatist camp? Is it correct to to organize protests on August 5. assume that currently, Kashmir has no mobilizers? In the UK, some people of Kash- Can we say that mobility has dried up because the mir origin and a group of Paki- law-enforcing agencies have succeeded in contain- stani nationals protested outside ing the political forces that drive mobilization? Indian High Commission. Some ISI backed journalists in exile had started the campaign #Red For 4. For many years, a section of thinkers have at- Kashmir from July beginning. tributed the uncertainty in Kashmir to governance Aafreen Tariq Khan PDP president Mehbooba Mufti deficit. Has the governance improved to such levels has replaced hawkish Syed Ali Shah that people are happy with the LG administration Geelani as the flag-bearer of the and they don’t want any kind of instability? Sehar Ashraf Lone separatist camp. Mehbooba came out to protest the abrogation of 5. Thirty years of violence has devastated normal Article 370 with all of seven party life in Kashmir. It has come with huge human, eco- cent normal. At certain places, workers. nomic and socio-political costs. False hopes and police allegedly compelled shop- Her protest was insignificant be- false dreams have crashed, particularly with the The Indian state has abandoned keepers and other businesses to cause she failed to gather a mass scrapping of Article 370 and 35 A. The Indian state stay open. around her. To summarize the sec- responded to the cost inflicted upon its people by its faulty policies that The KZINE team visited ond anniversary of the revocation Pakistan after 30 long years. Do the calm and com- many busy areas of Srinagar city of the special status of the erstwhile posed streets reflect conflict fatigue in Kashmir? Are perpetuated the status quo in to assess the mood on August 5. state of Jammu and Kashmir, we Kashmiris now conscious of the costs of violence? According to our observation it can say this: There was neither a Kashmir. Those who abused was a 50-50 situation. About 50 serious attempt from any side to power, privilege and patronage per cent businesses were open in disturb normal life for the day, are paying for their deeds KZINE August 2021 KZINE August 2021 5 nor there was any appetite for state. This is the subtle shift. in Kashmir. Those who abused W HERE such initiatives. This raises sev- If this shift is not adjudged in power, privilege and patronage THE eral questions about the general the right perspective, it may be are paying for their deeds. mood in the Valley. confusing or misleading. This is precisely what the Indi- The Indian state has finally STATE Is There are too many questions, The fact remains that the an state has achieved post abroga- succeeded in defining WANTIng not many answers. Kashmir is domination of the separatist tion. This also provides answers homogenous only by faith. Be- narrative has seen a sharp de- to some of the questions raised terrorism in Kashmir. yond that, Kashmir has many cline. Some may argue that it above. There were many truths he state seems to be realities. has ended. Nationalism and pa- about Kashmir when the sepa- This definition has been Twanting in providing triotism is pervasive. It is grow- ratist narrative was dominant. alternate options to the THE SHIF ing substantially on the canvas. There are many truths about accepted by the international existing political struc- This may be because the state Kashmir when the same narra- tures. There is confusion IN KASHMIR is on the path of course correc- tive is dormant. Globally, peo- community, though with in state policy.